N. Wecklein Agamemnon 721.comm-721

CHOROS.

Who may he have been that named thus wholly with exactitude —

(Was he someone whom we see not, by forecastings of the future

Guiding tongue in happy mood?)

— Her with battle for a bridegroom, on all sides contention-wooed,

Helena? Since — mark the suture! —

685

Ship’s-Hell, Man’s-Hell, City’s-Hell,

From the delicately-pompous curtains that pavilion well,

Forth, by favour of the gale

Of earth-born Zephuros did she sail.

Many shield-bearers, leaders of the pack,

690

Sailed too upon their track,

Theirs who had directed oar,

Then visible no more,

To Simois’ leaf-luxuriant shore —

For sake of strife all gore!

695

To Ilion Wrath, fulfilling her intent,

This marriage-care — the rightly named so — sent:

700

In after-time, for the tables’ abuse

And that of the hearth-partaker Zeus,

Bringing to punishment

Those who honoured with noisy throat

The honour of the bride, the hymenseal note

705

Which did the kinsfolk then to singing urge.

But, learning a new hymn for that which was,

The ancient city of Priamos

Groans probably a great and general dirge,

Denominating Paris

710

The man that miserably marries: —

She who, all the while before,

A life, that was a general dirge

For citizens’ unhappy slaughter, bore.

And thus a man, by no milk’s help,

Within his household reared a lion’s whelp

That loved the teat

In life’s first festal stage:

Gentle as yet,

720

A true child-lover, and, to men of age,

A thing whereat pride warms;

And oft he had it in his arms

Like any new-born babe, bright-faced, to hand

Wagging its tail, at belly’s strict command.

725

But in due time upgrown,

The custom of progenitors was shown:

For-thanks for sustenance repaying

With ravage of sheep slaughtered —

730

It made unbidden feast;

With blood the house was watered,

To household came a woe there was no staying:

Great mischief many-slaying!

From God it was-some priest

Of Até, in the house, by nurture thus increased.

At first, then, to the city of Ilion went

A soul, as I might say, of windless calm —

740

Wealth’s quiet ornament,

An eyes’-dart bearing balm,

Love’s spirit-biting flower.

But — from the true course bending —

She brought about, of marriage, bitter ending:

745

Ill-resident, ill-mate, in power

Passing to the Priamidai — by sending

Of Hospitable Zeus —

Erinus for a bride, — to make brides mourn, her dower.

Spoken long ago

750

Was the ancient saying

Still among mortals staying:

Man’s great prosperity at height of rise

Engenders offspring nor unchilded dies;

And, from good fortune, to such families,

755

Buds forth insatiate woe.

Whereas, distinct from any,

Of my own mind I am:

For ’t is the unholy deed begets the many,

Resembling each its dam.

760

Of households that correctly estimate,

Ever a beauteous child is born of Fate.

But ancient Arrogance delights to generate

Arrogance, young and strong mid mortals’ sorrow,

Or now, or then, when comes the appointed morrow.

765

And she bears young Satiety;

And, fiend with whom nor fight nor war can be,

Unholy Daring — twin black Curses

Within the household, children like their nurses.

But Justice shines in smoke-grimed habitations,

And honours the well-omened life;

While, — gold-besprinkled stations

Where the hands’ filth is rife,

775

With backward-turning eyes

Leaving, — to holy seats she hies,

Not worshipping the power of wealth

Stamped with applause by stealth:

And to its end directs each thing begun.

780

Approach then, my monarch, of Troia the sacker, of Atreus the son!

How ought I address thee, how ought I revere thee, — nor yet overhitting

Nor yet underbending the grace that is fitting?

Many of mortals hasten to honour the seeming-to-be —

785

Passing by justice: and, with the ill-faring, to groan as he groans all are free.

But no bite of the sorrow their liver has reached to:

They say with the joyful, — one outside on each, too,

As they force to a smile smileless faces.

But whoever is good at distinguishing races

790

In sheep of his flock — it is not for the eyes

Of a man to escape such a shepherd’s surprise,

As they seem, from a well-wishing mind,

In watery friendship to fawn and be kind.

Thou to me, then, indeed, sending an army for Helena’s sake,

795

(I will not conceal it) wast — oh, by no help of the Muses! — depicted

Not well of thy midriff the rudder directing. — convicted

Of bringing a boldness they did not desire to the men with existence at stake.

But now — from no outside of mind, nor unlovingly — gracious thou art

To those who have ended the labour, fulfilling their part;

800

And in time shalt thou know, by inquiry instructed,

Who of citizens justly, and who not to purpose, the city conducted.

CORO

2

di sua vita, e dei parvoli

830

vago, ed ai vecchi accetto:

fra le lor braccia stretto

vedilo, come cucciolo

pur mo' nato; e scodinzola

alla mano che il cibo gli offerí.

835

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